<p>I've been considering upgrading to a smartphone, specifically the Galaxy Note 3 (although I'm still considering the Galaxy S 4 somewhat). I've dropped Apple from my radar considering the underwhelming release of their newest models yesterday.</p>
<p>The last time I had a smartphone was way back (in technological time) when the first iPhone was introduced. I had a Windows smartphone that pretty much looked like a PDA (is that too old a term now?) with stylus and all. It worked great for work mostly because it would read/edit MS Office files and email and all that.</p>
<p>Anyhoo, now that I'm in college I'm wondering what beneficial uses other students have gotten out of their smartphones. I've survived thus far barely using my current phone (pretty much just use it to text my wife and to have an alarm clock), but I can imagine some instances of usefulness: using it for internet/email access so I wouldn't have to carry my laptop around (currently the only way I can access email when I'm not at home, so long as there is Wifi around), checking things online (I found myself often texting my wife to tell me what the score of a sports game currently was, for example), and using a calendar to more easily plan assignments and other important academic (as well as personal) dates. I'm one of those types that checks facebook once in a blue moon and don't do any of the twitter/instagram business, although I know a lot about it because my wife is into that stuff (she has an iPhone).</p>
<p>So, has a smartphone been of particular use to you? If so, then how?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for the insights and help determining how I might use the smartphone better.</p>
email: definitely a good access to send/receive emails. i am always updated with my emails.
social media (I am in PR/ad/marketing and like/need to keep up with current events)
pictures (in case I forgot my planner, or I need a quick snap of something)
recording app (needed for conducting interviews – some people do this for lectures but i find it really battery-draining)
wifi/internet – good for searching up some last minute stuff for a class discussion on your way to class!
access online document readings in-class without having to print or on the go (in a dentist office waiting? no problem!)
My boyfriend and I have a synced calendar for events, classes, and work schedule. </p>
<p>They have a ton of apps for to-do lists, too, and it comes in handy but I prefer writing in my paper planner. :)</p>
<p>Overall, I would recommend one only if you can easily afford it and you’ll use it to its fullest! I have a few friends who survive without smartphones. I find that I use my smartphone more for social media/texting/calling and emailing rather than actually doing homework assignments. However, it is definitely handy since I conduct a lot of interviews for my internship/classes and the recording app is wonderful.</p>
That’s what I’m trying to reason with - I’ve done so much without one thus far in college that I don’t want to get it just to find myself relying on what I’ve known to work (i.e. doing things without it) and leaving it to rust. . .</p>
<p>
Another reason I’m really looking for ways to use one. I’m really not into social media so if I’m not using it for the to-do apps, calendars, emails, document organization, etc, then I’d almost not be using it at all except for internet access.</p>
<p>You brought up a good point in viewing course electronic handouts that I didn’t orginally realize. For example, I could digitally store course syllabi instead of carry them in folders like I have been (plus I’d be able to access them even if I don’t have my school bag with me!). I do currently store any digital handout docs in folders on my laptop, but, again, I would only have access to them if I lugged around my laptop.</p>
<p>I’m probably realizing that email access on-the-go is a must these days too. Just this past summer term I went to class in the afternoon only to find out that the professor sent an email that morning to cancel that day’s lecture. The only time I get to check my email before I even get to campus is at home before I leave for work in the morning (can’t check personal email at work, but can’t check work email at home!). So, all day I could have known class was cancelled and just drove home after work instead of driving to the other side of town and finding an empty classroom like “What the . . . ?”</p>
<p>It’s all about whether or not you’re willing to (or can afford to) pay for the convenience of having a smartphone. There’s nothing inherently necessary about a smartphone, but it can be more convenient if you use it well. When you had a smartphone before, did you use all of it’s functions frequently? If you did, then you will likely be able to adapt to using a smartphone again, but if you’re more of a pen and paper kind of guy, you probably won’t use it as much as you think you will.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I have a Samsung Galaxy S4, and I like it. Now, that I’ve gotten use to the screen size iPhones seem so tiny.</p>
<p>I use my phone for:
-Emails - I like being aware of what’s happening, so my phone buzzes whenever I get an email so I know about it. I also reply back from my phone because I always tend to forget to reply to emails unless I do it right away.
-Internet - I look up things all of the time when I’m out and about. Once you’ve gotten used to being able to check something online (be it for school, work, or just nearby restaurants or the weather forecast), it just feels weird to be without it.
-Reading documents - I use dropbox a lot to sync files between all of my devices, and I use my phone to check something on a document, read a paper while I’m waiting for something, etc. I tend not to edit documents that much on my phone, but I’ll usually check something or read on it a lot.
-GPS - Whenever I’m in a new place or driving long distance, I always use my phone as a GPS.
-Calendar - I put everything on my google calendar, so I use my phone to look up classes, test or due dates, appointments, my work schedule, etc. I also have calendars with my family’s schedules so I can check in on what they are doing if I need to call them or something.
-Camera - Even if you don’t do instagram or facebook or anything, I still find myself taking pictures of things I want to remember or things that I don’t want to have to copy down (like an article or something). You can take pictures on a non-smartphone, but smartphones tend to have better cameras and bigger screens so it’s a lot easier.</p>
<p>There are also homework planners and to-do apps (or other organizer apps) that you can use for school. It’s definitely nice to have access to everything in your pocket. Whether or not the expense is worth it is up to you. I definitely use mine all the time though.</p>
<p>Honestly, you don’t really need a smartphone beside for maybe school related apps or talking to people.
Get a cheap plan and newer phone. Just my advice. </p>
<p>Music is also a good advantage (At least free music on andriod).
Email is meh.
Dolphin Browser(internet) is quite fast. You won’t feel… behind while running it on wi-fi.</p>
<p>Basically you will have a portable laptop that you can message on. The only thing that matter about which phone is the age. Newer ones are more reliable and of course phones are now surpassing the power of (generic) iPhone 5. So android is really one of the best.</p>
<p>Heck, I just got a cell phone when I started college (3 years ago…).
I don’t have a smart phone and don’t feel like I’m missing out, but instead I’ve had an iPod touch for most of the time. Since I spend about 90% of my time on campus, and there’s wi-fi everywhere, I haven’t felt the need for a smartphone. (Mind you, the iPod touches have also gone up $100 since I got mine, I think). If I were doing it now, I would get a Nexus 4 (which is the same price as the current iPod touch, I believe) and just not get a SIM card for it. It would give me all the functionality without the ridiculous price of the data plans.
I also won an iPad mini last year, and I’ve started using that a ton for taking notes on professor’s slides, reading papers, etc. (If I had been buying for myself, I would have gotten the Nexus 7 - cheaper than the Mini or the Nexus 4, even.)</p>
<p>Unless your parents are paying for everything, there’s no need to get a brand new smartphone when something made 2-4 years ago would do just as good.</p>
<p>Honestly, smartphones are just great for socializing and that sort of thing for me. As for email and calendar and stuff, iPhone and Android both do it pretty much equally well.</p>
<p>Samsung Galaxy SIII is a fine choice, as is the S4. If you’re just using it for utility, iPhone and Android both do well, and at this point there’s not a huge difference between them for what you’re using them for. Obviously, if you use Google apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, Gtalk, and that sort of thing, Android is best.</p>
<p>But in general, they are definitely useful for email, calendar, and just general day-to-day stuff, and researching things on-the-fly. I don’t think you’ll regret having one.</p>
<p>Okay, I have a decent-sized phone (LG L9 or something like that)</p>
<p>And this thing is my life. It keeps me synced with my gcal. The GPS keeps me from getting lost in Boston. It means I can answer emails while on the go. </p>
<p>I use it to track my sleep with a special app.
I keep my diary in dropbox (don’t ask) so I can update entries while on my phone as well.
I can make appointments without having to drag out my laptop.
It’s a pretty good camera for general use.</p>
<p>Also: if you’re a Linux user like myself: wake-on-lan + sshd on laptop, Connectbot on phone = access to laptop, no matter <em>where you are</em>. </p>
<p>Things:</p>
<p>Apple is a pretty locked box. If you like it, get it. If you don’t, get Android. Windows (still) has its old registry issue.</p>
<p>If you run Mac computers, get an iPhone. If you run Linux, get an Android or you’re have to spend some painful hours with iTunes, Wine, and maybe wine. </p>
<p>You may not have to get a data plan. I have no data plan. I just crib off of school internet/duck into Starbucks if needed. Actually, this phone saved me money b/c now I’m pay-per-minute and my texts go out and come in over wifi</p>
<p>I’ve spent less than $100 on phone bills since the beginning of the year. Total. Yay google voice!</p>
<p>My daughter has a smart phone and is a college junior; there are so many apps these days, I didn’t even have to purchase her a tape recording device for voice lessons. She just downloaded some ‘app’ and magic, her phone turned into a recording device. I imagine she does a lot of different types of activities on that I-phone. She is also in Europe this fall, and even though the data is turned off, she is always on that phone listening to music, sending emails, checking FB, etcetera, in the wi fi mode. Good luck with your decision. Like I wrote for choosing a computer, there are so many choices today for technology. It is not easy choosing the right product, is it?</p>